Kundapur: Kollur Temple worker suspended for pocketing silver offerings
Silvester D’ Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)
Kundapur, Jan 8: Kollur Shree Mookambika Temple authorities on Tuesday January 7 suspended a worker for allegedly stealing ten silver nuggets worth several lacs offered by a devotee to the deity.
A large number of devotees from India and abroad had flocked to the temple during the beginning of the year. It is said that the accused worker, identified as Narayana Puranik, plotted to hoodwink an influential businessman from Tamil Nadu and suggested him to do ‘Tula Bhara’.
The devotee came forward to offer silver nuggest and sugar. It is said that Narayana kept the silver nuggets on top of the sugar bundle in a plate and covered them with flowers. The silver nuggets which fell down while weighing in the scale were allegedly pocketed by Narayana. There was nobody other than the donor and him in the room. Narayana who has sent the devotee back after the weighing process took the sugar bundles to the repository and the silver nuggets to his house, source said. Unfortunately for him, a staff at the temple noticed his act.
Though Narayana did not come to work on January 2, the information of his misdeed had reached the concerned.
Krishnaprasad Adyanthaya, president of management committee and L S Maruti, executive official, saw the images captured by the CCTV which confirmed the incident. They questioned Narayana, who then returned the ten silver nuggets to the temple. He was suspended by the temple authorities.
As per customs, devotees can offer valuables in ‘Tula Bhara’ through the priest or directly to the temple. If the offerings are made directly, all the items offered go the repository. If they are offered through the priest, half of the offerings go to the priest and remaining half to the temple. Narayana was not authorized to ask the devotees for ‘Tula Bhara’, but he allegedly changed the procedure to suit his purpose.
It is learnt that the temple will form a committee to further investigate the incident by March 30 and arrive at a decision.